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Free Dictionary API vs The Guardian

Same instrument, two spec sheets — measured, not claimed.

APIFree Dictionary APIHEALTHY95The GuardianDEAD0
Uptime · 30d
Uptime · 90d100%50.6%
Uptime · 30d100%0.0%
P50 · ms231517
P95 · ms32292726
AuthnoneapiKey
CORSyesno
HTTPSyesyes
Card requirednono
Commercial useunclearunclear
Data licenseUnverifiedUnverified
Free tierFree — limits not publishedFree developer key — registration required
Rate limitUnpublished5000 calls/day (developer tier)
In directory since2026-07-052026-07-05
operationalpartialdownno data

Free Dictionary API vs The Guardian: common questions

Which is more reliable, Free Dictionary API or The Guardian?

On our scheduled checks, Free Dictionary API leads on measured uptime — Free Dictionary API at 100% versus The Guardian at 50.6% over 90 days. These are our own probe results, not provider claims; the uptime bars above show the day-by-day record for both.

Which is faster, Free Dictionary API or The Guardian?

Free Dictionary API has the lower median latency in our checks — Free Dictionary API responds in 231 ms versus The Guardian at 517 ms (P50). Tail latency (P95) is in the table above; for most workloads the median is the number that shapes how the API feels.

Do Free Dictionary API and The Guardian need an API key?

Free Dictionary API needs no key, while The Guardian requires a free API key. If you want to start calling without signup, reach for Free Dictionary API first.

Can I call Free Dictionary API and The Guardian from the browser?

Only Free Dictionary API is browser-friendly — it returns CORS headers over HTTPS. The Guardian needs a server-side call or proxy, so factor that into which one fits a front-end project.

Are Free Dictionary API and The Guardian free for commercial use?

Free Dictionary API has unclear commercial terms, and The Guardian has unclear commercial terms. We track service terms and the data license as separate fields — see the Commercial use and Data license rows above, and confirm both before shipping either in a paid product.